2.5" External HDD encolsure questions

[Kabob]

Quick question, a friend is looking at getting a small 2.5" bare laptop drive and a USB enclosure. The question is do the enclosures typically receive SATA or IDE drives? I found a relatively inexpensive 100GB 7200 RPM drive that's SATA, don't know if it will work in an enclosure.

Also, a question only pseudo-related to the above question, what is the difference between SATA/150 and SATA/300 and will that affect if it'll work in an enclosure?

Thanks!

 

[Blain]

Read the specifications on the enclosure you're considering... Some use SATA and some use IDE.

No, SATA/150 or SATA/300 won't make any difference in performance in an external enclosure.

 

[taisingera]

Yes that hard drive will work in an enclosure. Make sure when you buy one it says it accepts SATA drives as an internal connector. At this point, avoid IDE. Most if not all, 2.5" enclosures do not have any cooling fans, so heat is released by contact with the enclosure. Try to get one that is made of aluminum and not plastic, it will conduct heat away better. Usually with 2.5" enclosures, external ports can be USB2.0 only, USB+eSATA or sometimes USB+Firewire.

 

[Kabob]

Another question, for an external drive going through USB is there going to be any benefit to going with a 7200 RPM drive vs. a 5400?

 

[Blain]

7200rpm laptop drives run hotter and are more expensive than 5400rpm models.
The USB pipeline would choke down any potential performance from the faster HD.
If you were using firewire 800 the story would be different.

 

[Kabob]

Hrm, I was worried about the heat that a faster drive might generate, but didn't know how much hotter it'd run.

So a 5400 RPM drive is the way to go? Dell's got a 320 GB WD Passport on sale for $85 right now...it's so much bigger than she needs though.

 

[Blain]

If the price is good, more capacity never hurt anyone.
If she needs much less, look at a USB drive.
These Patriot drives are Freakin' Fast! :thumbsup::laugh: And a lot less to mess with than an external enclosure.

 

[Kabob]

No, she'll want at least 80 GB, and as you mentioned, more never hurt ^^

 

[taisingera]

When I bought a 2.5" drive for backup, I chose size over speed. 320GB 5400 over a 250GB 7200.

 

[StarTech]

Currently you can find 500GB 5400RPM drives just around or under $100.